The Best Phones for 2025

• RELATED:
• Best Android Phones
• Best iPhones
• Best Cheap Phones
• Best Camera Phones
• Best 5G Phones
• Best Phones for Seniors

Best iPhone for Most People

Apple iPhone 16

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Most affordable iPhone 16 model
• High-quality hardware
• Swift performance
• Sharp camera quality
• Good battery life
• Supports Apple Intelligence

• 60Hz display

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$698 at Amazon $799 at Apple.com

Learn More

Apple iPhone 16 Review

Best Midrange Android Phone

Google Pixel 9a

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Powerful performance
• Excellent cameras
• Useful Google AI
• Seven-year software support commitment

• Lacks mmWave 5G
• No reverse wireless charging

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$499 at Google Store

Learn More

Google Pixel 9a Review

Best for Artists and Note-Takers

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Class-leading performance
• Powerful AI features
• Excellent cameras
• Sharp, anti-reflective screen
• Better ergonomics than previous Ultras
• Long software support window

• Expensive
• Less S Pen functionality than previous generation

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$1,144 at Amazon $999 at Amazon $1,049 at Best Buy

Learn More

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review

Best Folding Phone

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Exceptional hardware
• Excellent displays
• Solid performance
• Powerful software
• Strong radios

• Outlandishly expensive
• Only average battery life

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$1,999 at Samsung

Learn More

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review

Best Android Phone for Most People

Google Pixel 9

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Excellent cameras
• Useful and fun AI features
• Good performance
• Competitively priced

• Limited storage
• Doesn't include Gemini Live subscription

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$599 at Amazon $799 at Google Store

Learn More

Google Pixel 9 Review

Best Affordable Android Phone

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Excellent value
• Good performance
• Above-average cameras
• Splashproof
• Six-year support window

• Large
• Plastic build

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$142 at Amazon

Learn More

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Review

Most Powerful iPhone for Creators

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Leading video features
• Outstanding battery life
• Large, bright screen
• Strong connectivity

• Exceedingly large
• Pricey

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$1,199 at Best Buy

Learn More

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Review

Best Flip Phone

Motorola Razr Ultra

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Bright displays
• Category-leading battery life
• Powerful performance
• Fun folding form factor

• Middling cameras
• Mediocre AI

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$1,299 at Amazon

Learn More

Motorola Razr Ultra Review

Best Alternative to Google and Samsung

OnePlus 13

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Class-leading battery life
• Bright, crisp screen
• Impressive performance
• Fast wired and wireless charging
• Solid build quality

• Lacks mmWave 5G
• Shorter software support window than competing phones

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$849 at Best Buy $899 at OnePlus

Learn More

OnePlus 13 Review

Best Voice Phone

TCL Flip 3

3.0 Average

Pros & Cons

• Affordable
• Clear earpiece and speakerphone
• Wi-Fi
• Email access
• FM radio

• Mediocre battery life
• Limited third-party apps
• Poor cameras

Why We Picked It

Who It's For

Specs & Configurations

GET IT NOW

$32 at Amazon

Learn More

TCL Flip 3 Review

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The Best Phones for 2025 Compare Specs

Select Up To 3

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01UegEoFfj27rIbEM7VNtuO Apple iPhone 16Google Pixel 9aSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Google Pixel 9Samsung Galaxy A16 5GApple iPhone 16 Pro MaxMotorola Razr UltraOnePlus 13TCL Flip 3

00BiLSWB1TY8bDBqy0Pdxlw Apple iPhone 16Google Pixel 9aSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 7Google Pixel 9Samsung Galaxy A16 5GApple iPhone 16 Pro MaxMotorola Razr UltraOnePlus 13TCL Flip 3

Your Selections

Apple iPhone 16

$698.03 at Amazon

See It

Google Pixel 9a

$499.00 at Google Store

See It

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

$1,144.99 at Amazon

$1,419.99 Save $275.00

See It

Rating

4.5

4.5

4.5

Best For

Best iPhone for Most People

Best Midrange Android Phone

Best for Artists and Note-Takers

Operating System

iOS 18

Android 15

Android 15

CPU

Apple A18

Google Tensor G4

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Dimensions

5.8 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches

6.1 by 2.9 by 0.4 inches

6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches

Screen Size

6.1 inches

6.3 inches

6.9 inches

Screen Resolution

2,556 by 1,179 pixels

2,424 by 1,080 pixels

3,120 by 1,440 pixels

Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)

48MP, 12MP; 12MP

48MP, 13MP; 13MP

200MP, 50MP, 50MP, 10MP; 12MP

Battery Life (As Tested)

17 hours, 47 minutes

13 hours, 15 minutes

14 hours, 15 minutes

Which Cell Phone Carrier Has the Best Coverage?

Despite all the recent hardware and mobile software innovations, choosing a wireless service provider remains the most important decision. No matter what device you buy, it's a paperweight unless you have reliable wireless coverage. You should choose a carrier that offers fair prices and provides the best coverage in your area.

If you're interested in performance and you live in a metro area, pay the most attention to where the major carriers have "mid-band" 5G (also called C-band) and use phones that support that technology.

UScellular is currently available throughout the US, though much of its coverage is provided via partner networks. Meanwhile, Boost Mobile covers the majority of the country with its 5G-first service.

There are also plenty of virtual operators that use the big three networks for service but offer lower monthly rates, cheaper international calls, or other benefits. They're typically better for less intensive users, and some don't even have family plans.

Mint Mobile (on T-Mobile), Consumer Cellular (on AT&T), and Spectrum Mobile (on Verizon) all got higher ratings in our Readers’ Choice survey than the companies that host their services.

AT&T owns Cricket, Dish owns Boost Mobile, T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile, Verizon owns Visible, and Google owns Google Fi (which also runs on T-Mobile). Verizon also owns Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and Tracfone. We spotlight some of our favorite virtual operators in our roundup of the best cheap phone plans. We also have a story on the best cheap phones.

Do You Need a 5G Phone?

5G arrived in 2019, and most new smartphones now support some form of it. Though 5G has yet to change everything, it's still well on its way.

If you're on T-Mobile, you should use a mid-band 5G-compatible phone. That's an easy choice—all T-Mobile 5G phones are mid-band-compatible now.

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What Is 5G?

To access AT&T's C-band network, any modern Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel will do.

If you're in one of Verizon's C-band areas, upgrading to a C-band-compatible 5G phone is a good move. The carrier's Ultra Wideband network also offers super-fast mmWave 5G in select locations. If you are in one of those areas and want to take advantage, make sure your phone has that support.

You can find more 5G recommendations on our list of the best 5G phones.

Should You Get an Unlocked Phone?

Carriers sometimes have confusing service and pricing plans, so unlocked phones are as relevant and invaluable as ever.

Unlocked phones are those you buy from a third-party store or directly from the manufacturer; they aren't tied to a specific carrier. Usually, you can use them with AT&T or T-Mobile. But some popular unlocked phones work on Verizon as well. For the most flexibility, look for a recent Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S or Z flagship, or high-end Motorola Edge phone. If you use a low-cost MVNO service, make sure your unlocked phone is actually compatible; some MVNOs don't support phones that should work on their networks.

In the past, unlocked 4G phones typically worked on all the major carriers, but 5G phones are different. Apple, Google, and Samsung's 5G phones usually work on every major US carrier, but many other brands either have limited band support or are only certified for specific carriers.

What Is the Best Smartphone?

There's actually less diversity in smartphone platforms and designs than ever. Android and iOS are the two remaining major smartphone platforms, both in US sales and in the availability of third-party apps. The iPhone has a well-developed App Store and some of the best media features. But Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem can feel stifling to some, though iOS is more customizable than ever. There's more variety among Android handsets, and Android's open-source nature makes it a tweaker's dream. But it can also mean carrier bloatware you can't remove, and less consistent OS updates.

Strictly interested in Android? Head over to our roundup of the best Android phones. Baffled by the variety of iPhones? Here's how to decide which iPhone to buy. And if you want to document the world around you with your phone, we've rounded up the best camera phones, too.  

Recommended by Our Editors

Android vs. iOS: Which Phone OS Really Is the Best?

9 Tips to Get the Best Price on a Cell Phone

8 Ways to Improve Your Phone's Signal Strength

What Is the Best Feature Phone?

Some people still use simpler phones, even though the number of choices is limited. The top reasons to consider these models are their lower prices, ease of use, and often cheaper associated service plans (because mobile data often isn't a factor). There are some great deals for voice-only plans on virtual carriers such as TracFone and Consumer Cellular.

Unlike smartphones, feature phones are a matter of "what you see is what you get." They don't receive software upgrades or run thousands of apps. Wireless network coverage is always the biggest factor, but individual phones can vary in reception, earpiece quality, transmission quality through the microphone, and sidetone (the echo of your voice that helps prevent you from yelling at the other person on the line). A phone with middling to poor reception quality can be almost impossible to use in a marginal coverage area. In contrast, one with excellent reception can make the best of the little signal that's available.

For more, see our picks for the best phones for seniors and our roundup of the best phones for kids.

What's the Best Time to Buy a New Phone?

The best time to buy a new phone is when you need one. If your phone dies on the pavement, get whatever is available that best meets your needs. But if you're watching your budget or riding the cutting edge, a little knowledge and planning can save you from buying a phone that's about to be discounted or replaced with something newer and cooler.

For instance, Google's flagship Pixels came out in August 2024. Apple released the iPhone 16 models in September 2024. Samsung introduced its new Galaxy S series in January and Galaxy Z folding phones in July. Motorola has been sticking to an early May cadence for its folding phones, while OnePlus announced its latest flagship in January.

Note that we update this story every time we review a new phone worth a spot on the list, so it changes often. Be sure to check back soon for our latest recommendations.

Dave LeClair and Sascha Segan contributed to this story.